Applications Open for the 2027 ASEAN School Awards and Greater Bay Area School Awards

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The strongest schools don’t succeed in isolation – they thrive as part of a broader education community. Our goal is simple: to ensure excellence is recognized, celebrated, and shared.”

— Justin Hardman, Founder and CEO of 21st Century Learning
Independent Awards Events Offer Schools and Providers Platform to Showcase Impact in Education

HONG KONG, HONG KONG, June 12, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Applications are now open for the 2027 ASEAN School Awards and Greater Bay Area (GBA) School Awards, two regional recognition programs designed to celebrate excellence, innovation, and impact across the education sector.

Organized by 21st Century Learning (21CL), the awards provide schools, education organizations, and partners with an opportunity to celebrate outstanding achievements, share best practices, and highlight initiatives that contribute to student success and institutional growth.

The 2027 cycle marks the third edition of the GBA School Awards and the second edition of the ASEAN School Awards. Since their launch, the programs have attracted participation from schools and education organizations across the region, establishing themselves as respected platforms for recognizing educational excellence and leadership.

The awards offer more than just recognition
it serves as a valuable endorsement of a school’s programs, culture, and strategic initiatives. It provides an opportunity to benchmark achievements, highlight institutional strengths, increase visibility among peers and prospective families, and demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement.

Non pay-to-play approach since the beginning
Unlike many awards programs, there are no application fees, ensuring that schools and organizations of all sizes can participate based solely on the strength of their submissions.

Independent judging process
All applications are reviewed by a panel of experienced education leaders, school operators, and industry experts, ensuring a fair, transparent, and merit-based evaluation process.

Plethora of categories covers major areas of school
The awards feature more than 20 categories covering a broad range of areas critical to school success, including leadership, teaching and learning, innovation, student well-being, sustainability, technology integration, community engagement, diversity and inclusion, and institutional excellence.

In recognition of the collaborative nature of education, the programs also include dedicated categories for education suppliers, service providers, and vendors. These categories acknowledge the important role that industry partners play in supporting schools and enhancing educational outcomes throughout the region.

Participation Since Launch (combination of both events since inception in 2025):
– Total submissions received: 203
– Number of finalists: 124
– Number of winners: 73
– Spanning across Great Bay Area (Hong Kong and Macao, and nine municipalities in Guangdong Province), and 11 ASEAN countries

“The strongest schools don’t succeed in isolation – they thrive as part of a broader education community. Exceptional work is happening in schools across our region every day and these awards were created to recognize outstanding achievements, showcase best practices, and connect schools and organizations that are driving positive change across the region, which is the main reason behind organizing the ASEAN School Awards and GBA School Awards year-on-year. Our goal is simple: to ensure excellence is recognized, celebrated, and shared.” -– Justin Hardman, Founder and CEO of 21st Century Learning, organizer of ASEAN School Awards and GBA School Awards.

Applications are now being accepted and will remain open through November and December respectively
Schools, education organizations, suppliers, service providers, and education-focused companies are encouraged to submit entries that demonstrate excellence, innovation, and measurable impact within their respective fields.

For application information and award criteria, visit:

ASEAN School Awards: www.aseanschoolawards.org
Greater Bay Area School Awards: www.gbaschoolawards.org

About the Organizer: 21st Century Learning
21st Century Learning (21CL) organizes top-tier conferences and events that align with its mission of “Building Communities of Learners” including: 21st Century Learning Hong Kong Conference, GBA School Awards, ASEAN School Awards, AI & the Future of Education Conference, PHASE (Physical Education, Athletics, Health & Wellness), OFFSEAS (Outdoor Education), Lead to Succeed (Education Leadership) and the International School Marketing & Admissions Conference (ISMAC). Led by educators with deep experience in Education Leadership, Professional Learning, EdTech and Progressive Pedagogy, 21CL also offers consultancy and professional learning services for schools.

Vote For The Best: ASEAN School Awards 2026 Opens Public Choice Voting – A Global Stage for Educational Excellence

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7 Reasons Why You Should Apply for the ASEAN School Awards

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Across Southeast Asia, schools and education organizations are driving innovation, championing student success, and shaping the future of education. The ASEAN School Awards is established to recognize these efforts: highlighting institutions that exemplify educational excellence and making waves across the region.

If you are committed to advancing quality education, here are 7 reasons why your school or organization should apply for the ASEAN School Awards:

  1. Gain Regional Recognition for Educational Excellence

The ASEAN School Awards celebrate outstanding contributions to education across the region. From innovative teaching and school leadership to impactful community partnerships. Being named a finalist or winner affirms your position among the region’s leading education institutions and professionals.

  1. Benchmark Your Achievements Across ASEAN

Preparing your application provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on your school’s vision, strategies, and impact. The process itself helps you benchmark your achievements against other education innovators in the region, identifying where you excel and where you can improve on.

  1. Showcase Your Strengths Across Diverse Award Categories

With 20+ award categories, it strives to celebrate various areas in the K-12 education. Explore categories such as:

  • Athletics & Sports Award
  • Early Childhood Center Award
  • Innovative Facilities Award
  • Professional Learning & Staff Development Award
  • Service Learning Award
  • Public Choice Award

Each category celebrates different aspects of education that contribute to the progression of schools and learners. See the full list of award categories ›

  1. Applications Reviewed by International Education Experts

Your submission will be evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges composed of global education experts, school heads, and thought leaders with extensive experience in academic excellence and innovation in the region. Their professional insights ensure a fair, rigorous, and meaningful review process. Meet the judges ›

  1. Gain Media Exposure and Regional Visibility

Winners and finalists are featured across the ASEAN School Awards’ media platforms and partner channels, reaching thousands of educators and stakeholders across Southeast Asia. This visibility strengthens your brand reputation and demonstrates your commitment to excellence in education. 

  1. Network with Education Leaders at the Gala Dinner

All shortlisted finalists are invited to attend the ASEAN School Awards Gala Dinner, where award recipients are announced and celebrated. The event brings together influential school leaders, policymakers, and education innovators from across ASEAN for an invaluable opportunity of connection, collaboration, and partnership. Learn more about the Gala Dinner ›

  1. Free, Accessible, and Designed to Support Growth

Participation is completely free: no application or listing fees. The awards aim to make credible recognition accessible to all schools and education-related organizations in the ASEAN region, encouraging growth, reflection, and collaboration without financial barriers. See our FAQs ›

Are You Ready to Inspire and Be Celebrated by the ASEAN Community?

The ASEAN School Awards are more than a competition – it’s a movement to celebrate and connect the schools and organizations shaping the future of education across Southeast Asia.

Submit your story, share your impact, and join a community of forward-thinking educators across the region.

Apply now: Step-by-Step Application Guidance

21C Learning Launches Inaugural ASEAN School Awards

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

21C Learning Launches Inaugural ASEAN School Awards 2026 – Celebrating Education Excellence from 10 ASEAN Countries

Bangkok, Thailand – June 8, 2025– The ASEAN School Awards, the first-ever initiative to recognize and celebrate innovation in international education across the ASEAN region, is now open for submissions. 

The ASEAN School Awards will take place on 8 May 2026 in Bangkok, and aims to celebrate schools, educators, and education service providers that are demonstrating outstanding contributions to the enhancement and development of educational practices. 

It is now calling for schools and relevant entities across Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam to submit their applications – and be in the running to be one of the many winners for 21 categories open for application for this inaugural event – including a Public Choice Award category that will involve a public voting exercise in January 2026.

Here are the award categories:

  • Arts
  • Athletics & Sports
  • Diversity Equity and Inclusion 
  • Early Childhood Center
  • EdTech Program 
  • EdTech Solution
  • Education Supplier
  • Experiential Learning Program
  • Experiential Learning Provider
  • Innovative Facilities
  • Innovative Marketing
  • Innovative Teaching & Learning
  • Judges Choice Award (will be selected by the Judges amongst the finalists)
  • Professional Learning & Staff Development
  • Public Choice Award
  • School Library Award
  • School Wellness 
  • Service Learning
  • STEAM Award
  • Strategic Plan Award
  • Student Agency 
  • Student Leadership

The complete description of each category can be found HERE.

Eligibility:
The awards are open to all schools located in the ASEAN region, as well as businesses and organizations that provide services to schools within the region. This includes public and private institutions, as well as education suppliers and experiential learning providers.

Benefits of Participation:
Winners and finalists will receive:

  • Recognition for their outstanding achievements
  • Enhanced visibility and reputation
  • Opportunities to network with other leading educators
  • A platform to share their best practices
  • Inspiration to further innovate and excel

How to Apply:
Educators, schools, and education service providers are invited to submit their applications through the official ASEAN School Awards website. The deadline for submissions is 15 December 2025.

“We invite schools and companies from the 10 ASEAN countries to showcase their innovation— to gain recognition, share best practices, and inspire progress across the education scene in the region.”

— Justin Hardman, CEO & Founder of 21C Learning

Judging Process:
All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of distinguished and independent judges with extensive experience in education. The judges will evaluate each application based on the specific criteria for each award category.

The ASEAN School Awards 2026 is co-located with:

  1. Lead to Succeed Summit (L2SS)
    8-9 May 2026 | Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit, Thailand
    A conference designed for current and aspiring leaders in international schools, this conference program equips participants with the essential skills and insights to excel in leadership roles. Through deep dives into key areas of school leadership, attendees will gain actionable strategies and fresh perspectives. Leave inspired and ready to implement transformative practices that elevate school success.
  2. International School Marketing and Admissions Conference
    8-9 May 2026 | Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit, Thailand
    Inaugural conference designed for marketing and admissions personnel in international schools who are eager to further develop their professional skills. Discover the latest trends and insights that can elevate your strategies in enhancing your customer journey, helping you to convert your potential customers into active participants of your school community. 

About the ASEAN School Awards
The ASEAN School Awards are dedicated to celebrating and promoting excellence in education across the ASEAN region. By recognizing the achievements of schools, educators, and service providers, the awards aim to inspire further innovation and collaboration, ultimately contributing to the advancement of education and the development of the region’s future generations.

About the Organizer: 21st Century Learning
21st Century Learning (21CL) organizes top-tier conferences and events that align with its mission of “Building Communities of Learners” including: 21st Century Learning Hong Kong Conference, GBA School Awards, AI & the Future of Education Conference, PHASE (Physical Education, Athletics, Health & Wellness), OFFSEAS (Outdoor Education), Lead to Succeed (Education Leadership), and International Education Institute Asia. Led by educators with deep experience in Education Leadership, Professional Learning, EdTech and Progressive Pedagogy, 21CL also offers consultancy and professional learning services for schools.

For more info, reach out to info@21c-learning.com.